00:15Welcome to MojoPlays and today we're looking over the most challenging games that fit into
00:20the Souls genre that made their debut post-2020. Keep in mind we're including both Souls likes
00:27as well as IPs released by FromSoftware themselves.
00:46Another Crab's Treasure
00:55Arguably the funniest Souls-like of all time, this game is equal parts comedy, environmental
01:00warning and balls to the wall gauntlet as you, a lone crab, smash your way through the
01:05terrors of the deep as you endeavour to recover your shell, encountering a menagerie of crazy
01:10aquatic bosses along the way.
01:20The way offence and defence are intermingled by switching shells, combined with the relentless
01:25attacks of the residents of the sands between, ensure you'll be kept on your crab's legs
01:29throughout your playthrough. Or you could just use game journalist mode to turn your shell into a handgun.
01:47Mortal Shell
01:54While certainly a tad rockier and less refined than others in the genre, what Mortal Shell
01:59brought to the table was a unique mechanic that allowed the player to switch between four play
02:04styles, depending on which shell you chose for yourself. They each differ in speed, strength
02:08and weapon type, but what they all have in common is the ability to harden, which when correctly
02:13implemented can act as a life saving counter, when going up against the swaths of enemies that will
02:28try to tear you to pieces until you're left as a vulnerable empty vessel. Hopefully they'll double
02:33down on the game's strengths for the upcoming sequel so Mortal Shell can stand toe to toe with its
02:38contemporaries moving forward.
02:49Elden Ring
02:59While it's the most approachable game that From Software has made to date, don't get it into your
03:04head that your time as the Tarnished will be filled with anything but pain. The Lands Between is host
03:10to some of the darkest and most enchanting enemies you'll encounter in a fantasy game. And unless you've
03:15got a stacked build or you're an innate master, you'll still find yourself bested at every turn.
03:28Yes, the option to flee, power up and acquire stronger gear does mean it is way more forgiving
03:34than the likes of Dark Souls or Bloodborne. That being said, this game also introduced us to
03:39Millennia and promised consort Redan, arguably the hardest bosses of the decade so far. So yeah,
03:46don't be under any illusion, a From Software game is still a From Software game.
04:00Black Myth Wukong
04:10He may be the destined one, but the only thing you're destined to do is fail continuously as you endeavour
04:16to
04:16retrace the steps of the legendary Monkey God. Forgoing parrying and blocking, the only way
04:22you're going to overcome these legends of Eastern mythology is by being light on your feet and heavy
04:27with your swings. Even with the Monkey Warrior's various transformations, spells, stances and monumental
04:33array of armour, it's all too easy to be overwhelmed by the sheer variety of enemies waiting in the wings.
04:47Even accruing the power of literal deities won't prepare you for some of the smackdowns that are
04:52sure to follow, as boss after boss unleashes attacks that are as unpredictable as they are hard hitting.
05:09Demon's Souls
05:21The precursor to all Souls games, while introducing many of the aspects that would allow the genre to
05:26thrive is not exactly the smoothest experience, given that it was developed decades ago.
05:31The Jank is indeed strong with this one, which is why it was such a welcome relief when Bluepoint
05:37came along to craft a remake that brought the game's core elements into the modern gaming era.
05:50The Jank may have been scrubbed off, but the difficulty of braving a whole kingdom filled
05:55with monsters and madmen remains wholly prevalent. Even if the game plays buttery smooth, no one
06:00walks away from their first encounter with the Maneater and the Flame Lurker in one piece.
06:16Wolong Fallen Dynasty
06:27Honestly, if you're looking for a challenge in your games and you're just not in the mood for the
06:31technical finery of a FromSoft game, you can't go wrong with Team Ninja, and Wolong is one of their
06:37most demanding forays into action RPGs yet. It did make headlines after all for having a tutorial boss
06:44that precious few were able to best. Heroes, villains, and monsters of Chinese mythology are all laid
06:59bare for you to challenge, with combat that manages to be both chaotic yet precise, that will demand you
07:05play by its rules, or be forced to watch in silent suffering as your genuine key is constantly snatched away.
07:21Nine Souls
07:31Blazing onto the scene with gorgeous visuals and difficulty spikes so immense it'll give you whiplash,
07:37this action platformer took the artistic elements of Hollow Knight and the ruthlessness of Souls games,
07:42all told through the lens of the newfound and suitably named Taopunk genre.
07:55Parrying is king here, not that the game will make it easy for you. Hitboxes are unforgiving,
08:01while the movesets of the council become more convoluted and quick paced as the game goes on.
08:05A gem of a metroidvania and another example of indie excellence, just don't expect any mercy throughout.
08:20Lies of P
08:29It's the closest thing we're going to get to a Bloodborne sequel, and that goes for the difficulty too.
08:34Putting a twist on the classic Pinocchio tale, now filled with way more murderous robotic puppets,
08:40you'll have no shortage of weaponry on hand as you fight your way through Kratt.
08:44But that won't count for much unless you nail those perfect parries.
08:55Every boss is a literal killing machine, their attacks are relentless, and unless you know how to
09:01stagger and exploit, there's every chance they'll turn you into scrap metal before you can unload with
09:06that fancy new arsenal of yours. That's on the regular difficulty of course. For those of you that
09:11want to feel like an untouchable puppet god, the newly introduced easier modes make the game far more
09:16approachable.
09:24The first Berserker, Kazan
09:37An anime-esque souls like that is truly unforgiving in nature. Just because you're a walking ball of
09:43rage and fury doesn't mean the monsters of this world can't hand you your ass on a platter. Kazan
09:48may be no slouch in combat, but thanks to the lethality of regular enemies when in droves,
09:53not to mention how unrelenting yet mechanically complex the bosses are. The first Berserker
09:58easily established itself as one of the most demanding new souls likes on the block.
10:12Even its easier difficulty feels like you've just gone down one weight class.
10:16You're still gonna get massacred either way.
10:27Nioh 2
10:36As Team Ninja's flagship franchise, the Nioh games are the epitome of punishing. And until we see what the
10:433 core throws our way, Nioh 2 stands at the pinnacle. Easily matching the patient pain of
10:48any Soulsborne title with an unfathomable amount of frenzy.
11:01Managing your stamina, mastering the key pulse mechanic and knowing when to go all out are crucial.
11:07And if you fall short in any department, then the early game can feel damn near impossible.
11:11It's a beast all its own. Incredibly rewarding for those who are able to grasp it. But even then,
11:17the bosses will still find a way to queue up and spit out even the most determined of players.
11:22Enter at your own peril.
11:32Which of these souls likes broke you? Let us know in the comments.
11:36Forward to us.
11:43To I, Nicola.
11:47And my promised consort, Radar.
11:50the
11:50is
11:51the
11:51we
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